Toms River Rolls Japan In Little League Softball World Series Rematch

GREENVILLE, NC — The Toms River Little League Softball All-Stars continue to roll at the Little League Softball World Series.

Toms River, the Mid-Atlantic Region champion, got a second chance to play Japan on Wednesday morning, and made the most of it, winning the rematch 11-0 in Greenville, North Carolina.

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Toms River,which is making the first appearance by a softball team from the township in the Little League World Series, had opened competition on Sunday against the team from Japan, the Asia-Pacific Region champions, and struggled to get hits in a 4-1 loss where nerves were evident.

On Wednesday, the nerves were nowhere to be seen. Toms River scored a run in each of the first three innings, taking advantage of miscues by the Japanese players with aggressive baserunning.

Analeise Curley reached on an error to open the game then scored three batters later on a sacrifice fly by Briella Bognar, reaching home plate after the ball thrown from center field hit off her helmet to put Toms River up 1-0 in the first.

Juliana Florek-Doslik led off the second inning with a double to center then moved to third on a bunt by Sophia Tolentino. Florek-Doslik scored on a sacrifice fly by Jaelyn Brown for the 2-0 lead.

In the third inning, Curley doubled to center and moved to third on single by Franki Velardi, then scored on another sacrifice fly by Brown.

In the meantime, Brown and her teammates were shutting down Japan on the basepaths. Brown, who struck out three and allowed just two walks and two hits, set Japan down in order in each of the first four innings. She gave up a single to center in the fifth inning, but quickly squelched any hopes Japan had of making more of it.

In the top of the sixth inning, Toms River blew the game open, scoring eight runs. Brown singled to open the inning, then Bognar reached on a fielder's choice. Carly Leonard reached on an error, putting two runners on. Florek-Doslik grounded into a fielder's choice but reached base on an errant throw that allowed Bognar to score, making it 4-0.

Aviana Gay then blasted a ball to left field, driving in Leonard and Florek-Doslik to break the game open with a 6-0 lead.

Japan never recovered as Toms River tacked on five more runs, with Tolentino singling to drive in Aviana Gay. Gia Gatto singled and an errant throw on her single allowed Tolentino to score. Gatto came home on a hard grounder to center by Mischa Koeppen, and Koeppen and Shaelyn Seaman both scored on a Curley fly ball to left that was misplayed by Japan.

Toms River now plays at 6 p.m. on Friday against the loser of Thursday's 5 p.m. game between Puerto Rico and Kentucky. The game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN2.

If Toms River wins Friday, they advance to the Orange bracket championship game with a chance to advance to the title game on Sunday.

Toms River's players are as follows:

1 Jaelyn Brown
2 Aviana Gay
5 Leiana Gay
6 Briella Bognar
7 Carly Leonard
8 Sophia Tolentino
11 Mischa Koeppen
12 Franki Velardi
14 Juliana Florek-Doslik
18 Analeise Curley
25 Gia Gatto
32 Shaelyn Seaman

Previous coverage:

Toms River Little League Moves On In Softball World Series

Toms River Softball Team Kicks Off Little League World Series Title Quest